The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), His Excellency Comrade Philip Shaibu, has praised the Super Eagles of Nigeria, the technical crew, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, following what he described as a successful and inspiring outing during the Unity Cup tournament and the international friendly encounter against Poland.
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Shaibu, who was among the distinguished guests at the Nigeria–Poland Football Match Viewing Party held at the VIP Lounge of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, applauded the Super Eagles for their resilience, fighting spirit, and quality performance, noting that the team once again demonstrated why Nigerian football continues to command respect globally.
According to the former Deputy Governor of Edo State, the Unity Cup initiative and the football diplomacy engagement between Nigeria and Poland further highlighted the unifying power of sports and the importance of football as a strategic tool for national pride, youth inspiration, and international cooperation.
He particularly commended Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye for his commitment to grassroots sports development and for creating platforms that promote national unity, international friendship, and positive youth engagement in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The Super Eagles deserve commendation for representing Nigeria with pride and determination. I also congratulate the coaching crew for their efforts and Hon. Adeyinka Adeboye for his dedication to initiatives that continue to elevate the image of Nigerian sports both locally and internationally,” Shaibu stated.
While celebrating the performance of the national team, the NIS Director General stressed the importance of maintaining discipline, focus, and concentration throughout the full duration of matches, especially during critical closing moments.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Poland, Shaibu noted that the Super Eagles had done enough to secure victory after taking the lead through Paul Onuachu’s penalty before conceding a late equalizer.
“Football is a game of ninety minutes and beyond. The lesson from the Poland match is that players must remain focused and disciplined until the final whistle. At the highest level, a brief lapse in concentration can change the outcome of a game.”
He encouraged the players and coaching crew to treat the experience as a valuable learning opportunity while continuing to build a team capable of competing successfully against the best football nations in the world.
“The quality is there, the talent is there, and the commitment is there. What is required now is consistency and concentration from start to finish. If we continue on this path, Nigerian football will achieve even greater success in future competitions.”
Shaibu further expressed confidence in the future of the Super Eagles and urged Nigerians to continue supporting the national team ahead of upcoming international assignments.
He also reaffirmed the commitment of the National Institute for Sports to supporting policies, programmes, and partnerships aimed at strengthening sports development, talent nurturing, and international sporting relations for the benefit of Nigeria and future generations of athletes.
The Nigeria–Poland Football Match Viewing Party, hosted by the Office of the SSA on Grassroots Sports Development in collaboration with the Polish Embassy in Nigeria, brought together top government officials, diplomats, sports administrators, football legends, and stakeholders in what many described as a successful celebration of football, diplomacy, friendship, and national unity.
